Driver’s License Requirements
Regular school attendance matters for student learning, and in West Virginia it can also affect a student driver's permit or license. This page links to the State Board of Education's attendance policy and explains how state law ties driving privileges to school attendance and academic progress. Students who withdraw from school or fall behind academically may have their driving privileges limited, with exceptions for circumstances beyond the student's control. For questions about a specific student, contact the student's school or the county attendance director. Browse the school directory online for contact details.
State Law on Driving and School Attendance
The Division of Motor Vehicles shall deny a license or instruction permit for the operation of a motor vehicle to any person under the age of eighteen who does not at the time of application present a diploma or other certificate of graduation issued to the person from a secondary high school of this state or any other state or documentation that the person:
- is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a course leading to a general educational development certificate (GED) or test assessing secondary completion (TASC) from a state-approved institution or organization or has obtained the certificate;
- is enrolled and is making satisfactory academic progress in a secondary school of this state or any other state;
- is excused from the requirement due to circumstances beyond his or her control; or
- is enrolled in an institution of higher education as a full-time student in this state or any other state.
Per WV State Code §18-8-11, satisfactory academic progress is defined as the attaining and maintaining of grades sufficient to allow for graduation and course-work in an amount sufficient to allow for graduation in five years or by age nineteen, whichever is earlier
When a student has withdrawn from school, had more than ten consecutive absences, or fifteen total unexcused absences during a school year, the student no longer has satisfactory enrollment for purposes of attaining and maintaining a driver’s license.
Note: This only applies to students who are at least fifteen years of age, but less than eighteen years of age.
State Board Policy
West Virginia Board of Education Policy 4150 explains how schools across the state apply the driver's license law the same way. It sets a clear measure for academic progress: to stay on track, a student must earn at least five credits each school year, and at least three of those must be core courses.
The policy also lists the serious offenses that can affect driving privileges when they lead to a suspension, such as bringing a weapon to school, assaulting a school employee, or having or selling illegal drugs. It sets when a student's record can be reviewed to restore driving privileges: after the next semester for attendance, at the end of the school year for academic progress, and after any discipline has been served for a suspension. Each county school system includes these rules in its own attendance, discipline, and academic policies, so your county's policies may have more details.
This page is a plain-language summary and is not a substitute for the complete and current versions of W. Va. State Code §18-8-11 and Policy 4150.